Chinese sun canopy
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Chinese sun badger ( Melogale moschata ) |
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| ( Gray , 1831) |
The Chinese sun badger ( Melogale moschata ) is a species of marten from the genus of the sun badger . They are found in southern China and adjacent parts of Southeast Asia.
features
The Chinese sun canopy is very similar to the Burma sun canopy, whose distribution area borders on the south. The Chinese species reaches a head-trunk length of 30–40 cm. The tail measures 10-15 cm and is thus shorter than half the head-torso length. In contrast, the similar Burma sun canopy is a little longer. The body weight is around 0.8 to 1.6 kg. As with all sun roofs, the body is quite slim, the muzzle long. The coat color of the Chinese sun canopy varies from black to gray. The basic color, especially on the head and neck, is dark and contrasts strikingly with the white areas. The white areas of the head markings are usually less extensive than on the Burma sun canopy. However, this feature is quite variable. Another distinguishing feature is the white neckline, which is less pronounced than that of the Burmese sun canopy and usually does not extend further than the shoulders. The tail is light brown with a white tip and relatively bushy. The grave claws are well developed, the females have two pairs of teats. Compared to the Burmese sun canopy, the teeth are significantly smaller.
Distribution, existence and subspecies
The Chinese sun badger is found in southern China, northern Myanmar, northeast India, Vietnam, Laos and the islands of Hainan and Taiwan. The species is not considered threatened. Little is known, however, about the exact status of the population. In Vietnam and Laos , where the ranges of the Burma sun roof and the Chinese sun roof are adjacent, it is difficult to assign them to the respective species. Inventory information is therefore only to be viewed with reservation.
A distinction is made between the following subspecies:
- M. m. moschata ( Gray , 1831): Southeast China in Guangdong , Guangxi , Guizhou , Yunnan as well as on the island of Hainan and in Laos
- M. m. ferreogrisea ( Hilzheimer , 1905): Central China
- M. m. millsi ( Thomas , 1922): Northwest Yunnan (China) via North Myanmar to Northeast India
- M. m. sorella ( GM Allen , 1929): Fujian (China)
- M. m. subaurantiaca ( Swinhoe , 1862): Taiwan
- M. m. taxilla ( Thomas , 1925): Vietnam
Way of life
The habitats of the Chinese sun canopy are tropical and subtropical forests, grasslands and cultivated land. It feeds on invertebrates (worms, insects), small mammals, birds, frogs, lizards, eggs and fruits. Chinese sun badgers are primarily active at night and at dusk. They live solitary and mostly stay on the ground, but can also climb. Little is known about the size of the grazing areas. A study in China, which only takes into account the distribution of the daily sleeping camps, showed an average of around 11 hectares per animal. The mating season is in March, the young are apparently born in May after a gestation period of around 60–80 days. A litter includes one to four young animals that are born blind but hairy.
contact to people
The Chinese sun canopy is known to be a potential carrier of rabies . For example, a total of 17 bite wounds caused by the Chinese sun canopy were reported to health authorities in Taiwan in 2017. The rabies virus was detectable in the animal in 13 cases. In contrast to Taiwan, where there has been no case of human rabies since 1957, the People's Republic of China has hundreds of rabies-related deaths each year. Dogs are mainly the vector, but sun badgers are also known as reservoirs of the rabies virus .
People who have been bitten by a Chinese sunroof should see a doctor as soon as possible in order to have post-exposure prophylaxis carried out if necessary .
literature
- Lariviére, S. & Jennings, AP (2009): Family Mustelidae (Weasels and Relatives) . In: Wilson, DE, Mittermeier, RA, (Ed.): Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, 2009. ISBN 978-84-96553-49-1
Web links
- Melogale moschata in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2010. Posted by: Duckworth et al, 2008. Accessed 16 April 2011..
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Lariviére & Jennings, 2009 (p. 635)
- ↑ As Taiwan CDC confirms 2 human cases of rabid animal bite in Taiwan, public urged to heighten vigilance, avoid contact with wild animals, and seek immediate medical attention when bitten or scratched. CDC ROC (Taiwan), February 22, 2018, accessed May 16, 2018 .
- ↑ Shoufeng Zhang, Qing Tang, Xianfu Wu, Ye Liu, Fei Zhang, Charles E. Rupprecht, Rongliang Hu: Rabies in Ferret Badgers, Southeastern China . In: Emerging Infectious Diseases . tape 15 , no. June 6 , 2009, doi : 10.3201 / eid1506.081485 (English).
- ↑ Lihua Wang, Qing Tang, Guodong Liang: Rabies and rabies virus in wildlife in mainland China, 1990-2013 . In: International Journal of Infectious Diseases . tape 25 , August 2014, p. 122–129 , doi : 10.1016 / j.ijid.2014.04.016 (English).